Posterior tibial tendon transfer and tendo-Achilles lengthening for equinovarus foot deformity due to severe crush injury.

Abstract

Surgical correction was performed on nine patients who had equinovarus deformity caused by severe crush injury of the leg sustained in an earthquake. The operative procedure used involved the transfer of the posterior tibial tendon to the dorsum of the foot by passing it through the interosseous membrane using a modified procedure as published in 1978. This procedure was combined with percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening and tenotomy of toe flexors when needed. The average follow-up time after the operation was 21 months. The treatment improved the heel-toe steppage gait in all patients and all were able to walk in standard shoes. There were no complications in the postoperative period. Recurrence of varus deformity was not seen in any of the patients. They had active dorsiflexion of the foot, with a median active dorsiflexion of 5 degrees (0 to 10 degrees) and median active plantarflexion of 16.1 degrees (10 to 25 degrees) compared to the median active dorsiflexion and plantarflexion on the uninvolved side. The total range-of-motion was 21.1 degrees (10 to 35 degrees).